Single-plate cylinder-press.



No. 867,231. PATENTED OUT. 1, 1907.

H. F. BBOHMAN. SINGLE PLATE CYLINDER PRESS,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1906.

Li 2 2 2%0 1 .i 4 A X g e 5: 32?

witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

HENRY F. BECHMAN, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SINGLE-PLATE CYLINDER-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

Application filed August 22,1906. Serial No. 331,603.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BECHMAN, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single-Plate Cylinder-Presses; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in rotary web printing presses, and its object is to produce a simple,

compact rotary press of large capacity using type cylinj of the two sets being parallel. Guides are provided whereby all the webs may be directed to a common folder and assembled thereat. Preferably I make the cylindes but two plates long, that is they will accommodate but two plates so that consequently each perfecting mechanism will produce but four pages, and

the complete press operated at its full capacity will produce sixteen pages without any collecting. Any less number of pages in multiples of twos can be produced on the machine.

I will describe the press as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and refer tothe claims for summaries of the novel combinations and constructions of parts for which protection is desired.

I11 said drawings-Figure 1 is an end elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with the inking mechanism partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a detail.

The press shown contains four sets of rotary perfecting mechanisms A, B, C, D. The mechanisms A, 13, are arranged one over the other, and the mechanisms O, D, are similarly arranged. Mechanisms A, O, are in the same horizontal plane, end to end; and mechanisms B, D, are similarly arranged. I Thus in the press there are four sets of perfecting mechanisms in two planes, two sets in each plane. The cylinders of the mechanisms in the same plane are arranged end to end.

Each perfecting mechanism comprises two plate cyl inders 1, 1 and intermediate impression cylinders 2, 2 co-acting with the plate cylinders. The plate cylinders as shown are about one-half the diameter of the usual plate cylinders, and of about one-half the diameter of the impression cylinders shown, and are adapted to carry single page tubular stereotype plates, which plates are one page in length and practically surround the circumference of the cylinder, Fig. 3.

By-the use of such cylinders and plates the press is as indicated at P in 1 considerably narrowed in width. It will be observed that every cylinder is arranged longitudinally of the press frame, and the plate cylinders in each set are at the outermost sides of the press and can be very easily reached by a person standing upon the floor, so that the plates can be easily put on or off the cylinders, and the I impression cylinders 2, 2 are equally accessible.

The cylinders are intergeared by gears 1, 1 2 2 as shown in the drawings, so that they can be rotated at uniform speed, and motion can be transmitted from one lower set of cylinders to the superadjacent set by means of gears 1 1. Motion can be imparted to the lower set of cylinders by means of gears 3 on a shaft 3, meshing with a gear 2 on the lower impression cylinder 2; and motion can be imparted to gears 3 by gear 3 on a driven shaft 3 as indicated in the drawing, or in any other suitable manner.

Preferably the sets of printing mechanisms A, B, O, D, are each driven from the shaft 3 by gears 3,

I which may be slidable on shaft 3 so that by slipping I the proper gear 3 out of mesh the set of perfecting f mechanisms A and B, or O and D, can be thrown out p of operation when it is desired to print but eight pages or less, in one color.

Suitable inking mechanisms may be provided for each plate cylinder as indicated at 4 and 4 in the drawings. Such inking mechanism is well known and requires no particular description herein.

Each perfecting mechanism is adapted to print a distinctweb if desired, for example, a web it may be led in from a roll W under guides 5, 5 between plate cylinder 1 and impression cylinder 2, in mechanism B, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby it is perfected, and then is led over guides 5 5, 5 to and over an angle bar 5 mounted on the top frame of the press, and then led lengthwise of the press to a folder F. Similarly another web w may be led in from a roll W over guides 6, 6 through the perfecting mechanism A, as indicated in Fig. 1., then up over guide 6 to and over an angle bar 6, and thence led to the folder F. In a similar manner other webs may be led through the printing mechanisms 0 and D, and over angle bars like 5 and 6 and on to the folder, so that all the webs printed on all the mechanisms can be assembled at one folder. For convenience the folder is shown at the end of the press, but may be located at any desired point. i

In a press thus constructed with all the perfecting mechanisms operating upon single webs and the plate cylinders each carrying two one-page tubular plates, the total product of the press will be sixteen pages. Of course by throwing any set of perfecting mechanism out of operation the product can be lessened, and any number of pages can be produced on this press from two to sixteen, by using the proper number and Widths of webs.

It is also possible with th s machine to perfect halt the number of pages in inulti-color. To do this, for examplethe web 11) after passing through the perfooting mechanism B, can be led direct to and between cylinders l, 2 in mechanism A, as indicated in dotted lines 142 in the drawings, and then between cylinders 1 and 2, in mechanism A as shown, out over guide 6 and angle bar 6 to the folder. In this case the web could be printed in two different colors on each side as is obvious. Another Web can be similarly printed in multi-color by mechanisms C, D.

The press can be enlarged by lengthening the plate cylinders so that they can carry more than two plates each, or by adding additional perfecting mechanisms, preferably in endwise alinement with the others, or in a third tier.

Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, In a printing press, the combination of sets of rotary printing mechanisms, each comprising two plate and two impression cylinders, the plate cylinders being of small size and each being in circumference slightly greater than the length of one page and adapted to carry a plurality of single page tubular plates, each page plate extending around the circumference of the cylinder, gearing between the sets of cylinders, and web guiding mechanisms whereby a web or webs may be directed through the perfecting mechanisms; a folding mechanism at the end of the press, and angle bars above the perfecting mechanisms whereby the printed webs may be given a quarter-turn and directed to the folder.

2. In a printing press, the combination of two sets of rotary perfecting mechanisms arranged one above the other in parallel planes, each comprising two plate and two impression cylinders, the plate cylinders being of small diameter and having a circumferential extent slightly greater than the length of one page and adapted to carry a plurality of single page tubular plates, arranged end to end and each page plate extending around (he circnln ference of the cylinder, gearing between the sets of cylinders, and web guiding mechanism whereby a web or webs may be directed through the perfecting mechanisms; a folding mechanism at the end of the press, and angle bars above the perfecting mechanisms whereby the printed webs may be given a quarter-tum and directed to the folder.

3. I11 a printing press, the combination of four sets of rotary perfecting mechanisms arranged in two parallel planes, two sets of perfecting mechanisms being in each plane and arranged end to end, all the cylinders extending longitudinally of the press with the plate cylinders outcrmost, each plate cylinder being of small diameter and having a circumferential extent slightly greater than the length of one page and adapted to carry a plurality of tubular single page plates arranged end to end, each page plate extending around the circumference of the cylinder, means for driving the cylinders in unison, guides for directing a web through each perfecting mechanism, a folding mechanism, and means for directing all the printed webs to the folder.

-f. In a printing press, the combination of four sets of rotary perfecting mechanisms arranged in two parallel planes, two sets of such mechanisms being in each plane and arranged end to end, all the cylinders extending longi tudinally of the press with the plate cylinders at the outer sides of the press and accessible therefrom, each plate cylinder being of small diameter and having a circnlnferential extent slightly greater than the length of one page and adapted to carry a plurality of tubular single page plates arranged end to end, each page plate extending around the circumference of the cylinder; :1 folder at the end of the press, web guides, angle bars whcrebly the webs may be given a (piarter-turn and directed to the folder, and means whereby some of the perfecting mechanisms may be put out of operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY l lll lCllM A N.

In presence of F. W. DUNNING, Cnas. A. Gnaiins. 

